All that is good and beautiful under one roof

Choose from the best: V. Krishna Kumar (left), former president of IPMA, visiting a stall after inaugurating the 5-day The Hindu MetroPlus Lifestyle Show 2009 at CODISSIA Trade Fair Complex in Coimbatore on Thursday. Branch Manager of Samsung India Electronics, Coimbatore, R. Balaji, is in the picture. Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

From little jute chocolate bags costing Rs. 10 to the Rs. 31 lakh 103-inch Panasonic plasma TV, The Hindu MetroPlus Lifestyle Show 2009 has something for everyone. Hundred and thirty odd stalls, in a sprawling exhibition hall at Codissia, offer everything from Rajasthani Pickles to Thai vases.

The show was inaugurated by V. Krishna Kumar, former president of the Indian Pump Manufacturers Association on Thursday. Main sponsor Samsung’s stall greets shoppers, as they enter. The Korean giant is pitching its frost free refrigerators, LED and LCD TVs and front loading washing machines.

Provogue bags and GSM mobiles are being given free in a race against the equally large spreads of other electronics majors that are here.

The stalls of co-sponsors Chennai Silks and Max New York Life Insurance follow. Chennai Silks has its Vivaha collection, with both traditional as well as glittering sequined saris, on display. There are also designer crepe, georgette, chiffon, raw silk and jute silk saris. Prices start at Rs. 8,000 a piece. Also on offer are their Vitomine and Rich Craft brands of shirts and trousers. Customers can get a privilege card for any amount of purchases.

Do visit the Thai stalls. Exquisite flowers, in brown and white, carved out of plants and vases with acrylic painting are available.

These mango wood vases, ranging from Rs. 300 to Rs. 3,000, promise to add character to any living room. There are other goodies like hand held vacuum cleaners, roti makers and furniture.

Plush sofa sets with zebra whirls and rugs start at Rs. 20,000. Do check out the line of jute stalls. Organised by co-sponsor Jute Manufacturing Development Council, these stalls have all kinds and colours of bags and wallets at rock bottom rates.

There are even cars and traditional churan and saunf stalls with dry ginger candy and gooseberry toffies. The most striking of the crew is the Rajasthani pickle stall. They boast of ice cream-cone sized red chillies stuffed with a 21-spice masala. At the end, there’s Sabari Nest’s canteen to replenish you for another trip through wonderland.

The show is on till December 14 from 10.30 a.m. to 8 p.m.